Reflector



V. PARKINS Jan. 31; 1939.

REFLECTOR Filed March 8, 1937 3mm iizyii Parkims Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved reflector more particularly adapted for use with motor vehicles.

Motorists have found that, in approaching road intersections, it is not always easy to ascertain whether or not the intersection is controlled by traffic signals, as often these signals are mounted above the middle or above one corner of the intersection out of the normal line of vision of the motorist. The result is often that a motorist will drive into the intersection against a danger signal not known to him and subject himself to danger from traflic moving into the intersection from ad- Jacent roads, and to possible arrest for traflic violations. Moreover, even when it is known that an intersection is controlled by traflic lights, it is common practice to drive a motor vehicle to the outer boundary of the pedestrian cross walk and when this is done the traflic light controlling the intersection is often out of the normal line of vision of the driver of the vehicle so that he must shift his head to a cramped position in order to see when the lights change.

One object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a reflector which may be quickly and easily attached to a vehicle windshield or dashboard and which will permit the driver of the vehicle to see the reflection of a traffic signal at any point above the intersection and obviate the necessity for the driver shifting his head to a cramped position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reflector which may be quickly detached from the vehicle windshield or dashboard and which may be readily cleaned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will be char acterized by the utmost simplicity, which will be practically unbreakable, and which will retain the position in which it is mounted indefinitely.

Other and incidental objects of the invention not mention d hereinabove will render themselves apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved reflector.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now more particularly to the draw- 1 8. wherein like numerals of reference will be understood to designate similar parts throughout the various views, the numeral i indicates a preferably soft rubber vacuum cup which is provided with a button 2 having a shank 3 provided with flattened opposite sides 4, the vacuum cup, the vacuum cup being adapted to be secured to a motor vehicle windshield or dashboard, or any other suitable surface in the well known manner.

My improved reflector includes a substantially hemispherical reflector body 5 which is provided with a hollow interior and a highly polished chromium plated outer surface. The body 51s pro- Jected tangentially downwardly from a point on its rim to deflne a relatively wide mounting shank l which is enlarged at its lower end-portion to deflne a ring 8 having an opening 9 therein. The shank I is formed with an upwardly projecting substantially rectangular opening in which leads from the opening 9 in the ring 8 a short distance upwardly within the shank medially of its width.

In use, the vacuum cup I is first secured to the windshield of a motor vehicle in the well known manner mentioned and the reflector 5 is mounted in position by flrst engaging the button 2 through the opening 8 of the ring 8 of the mounting shank I. The mounting shank is moved downwardly for engaging the shank 3 of the button i in the substantially rectangular opening iii of said shank. The rectangular opening in and the flattened sides 4 of the mounting shank will cooperate for preventing swinging movement of the reflector on the vacuum cup. It should be understood that the vacuum cup is preferably mounted with the flattened sides I of the shank 3 thereof disposed vertically so that the reflector 5 and mounting shank i will be disposed vertically. The flanges I l of the button will serve to prevent rearward or axial separation of the reflector and the vacuum cup. After the device has been mounted in the manner described and the vehicle is driven to an intersection having traflic lights mounted thereabove, the beams from said traflic light will be reflected from the highly polished outer surface 6 of the body 5 to the eyes of the driver so that he will not be required to shift his head to a cramped position in order to ascertain when the lights change. Furthermore, as the body 5 is hemispherical, the beams from the trafiic light will be reflected irrespective of the location of said light above the'intersection. In other words, it is not necessary to adjust the reflector for refleeting beams of traffic lights in various different positions.

It is thought that from the foregoing descrip-' tion it will be understood that I have provided a simple and highly eflicient reflector which will greatly add to the comfort and safety of motor- Ms.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a vacuum cup adapted to be secured to a surface within a vehicle, and having a button provided with a shank formed with flattened sides, a reflector body, a mounting shank formed on the reflector body and provided with an enlarged lower end portion defining a ring having an opening and a rectangular opening leading from said first mentioned opening, said first mentioned opening being adapted to receive therethrough the button of the vacuum cup and said second mentioned opening being adapted to receive the shank of the button whereby said flat sides of the shank will cooperate with the walls of the rectangular opening for preventing swinging of the reflector and reflector shank relative to the vacuum cup, said reflector being adapted to reflect beams exteriorly of the vehicle to the eyes 01' the driver of the vehicle.

2. In a device of the class described, a vacuum cup having a button provided with a shank hav ing flattened sides, and a hemispherical reflector body having a highly polished reflecting surface and being formed with a tangentially disposed mounting shank which is formed with an enlarged lower end portion defining a ring having an opening, said ring having a second opening of rectangular contour leading upwardly in the shank, said first mentioned opening being adapted to receive the button of the vacuum cup therethrough and said second mentioned opening being adapted snugly to receive the shank of the button for permitting the fiat sides of said shank to cooperate with the walls of the rectangular opening whereby swinging of the reflector on the vacuum cup will be prevented, said highly polished reflecting surface being adapted to reflect signal beams from a signal light exteriorly of the vehicle to the eyes of the driver of the vehicle.

, VIRGIL PARKINS. 

